Since September 2010, this blog has recorded the journey of this middle-aged man as I attempt to listen to all the music in my CD collection. CDs revisited in their entirety from start to finish - no skipping tracks, no shuffle. CDs only - no vinyl, no tapes, no downloads. And just as CD technology (and the album format itself) becomes obsolete. I'm no music critic, just a music junkie with too much time on my hands.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Chris Isaak - Christmas (2004)

-in which Chris Isaak does his best to release an Elvis Presley Christmas album. Unfortunately, it sounds like 40 minutes of music for TV commercials for The Gap. In addition to Isaak's usual rockabilly, we get a little Farfisa ska, conjunto, Hawaiian slack key guitar, honky-tonk piano, and of course, moody ballads. This release is only for serious Isaak fanatics (that's not me).

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #109

Tracks: The only worthwhile tracks are Have Yourself A Merry Christmas and Let it Snow. Of the 16 tracks, 5 are originals by Isaak and they are quickly forgotten. Avoid at all costs: Pretty Paper, which sounds like something from The Lawrence Welk Show and the original Gotta Be Good which contains an inexplicable, disturbing Buster Poindexter imitation.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: In the 1990's, I got in the habit of picking up 1 or 2 new Christmas CDs every year. That tradition continued until the purchase of this album. I just didn't want to take the gamble anymore.

Disclaimer: Opinions about recordings mentioned on this blog are in no way absolute and subject to change at any time due to factors such as aging, mood, diet, wind direction, shirt color, moon phase, alcohol intake, Daylight Savings Time, etc.

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